Internet services to 80 per cent of Yemen cut as Houthis strengthen positions in Hodeidah

Houthi rebels blacked out internet service to almost 80 per cent of Yemen on Thursday after damaging a fibre optic cable while fortifying their defences in the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, a telecommunications source said.

Yemeni forces said the rebels have used a pause in operations by the Arab Coalition – which includes Saudi Arabian and UAE forces – to strengthen their positions for a possible battle for central Hodeidah. The internet disruption came a day after UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths left Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital, after talks with the rebels.

Mr Griffiths was due later on Thursday to brief the UN Security Council on his meetings and the prospects for any peace deal.

“The cable that connects the country to the internet was cut in three places in the districts of Al Kanawes and Al Marawya in Hodeidah as the Houthi militia continues to dig trenches in the area,” a source from the Public Telecommunication Corporation told The National.

“Users all over the country have been affected by this, but we assure our clients that we have dispatched teams to repair the cable.”

The Houthis control the internet service in Yemen, but the disruption came as the government launched a new internet company, Aden Net, in the city of Aden, to start providing services, including 4G, at the end of July.

“This is a step with the purpose of stopping the Houthi militias’ control of the only service provider [at the moment], Yemen Net, in [rebel-held] Sanaa,” Telecommunications Minister Lutfi Bashreef said.

“The rebels impose bans on social media networks and slow the speed of the already weakened internet service, and this comes amid reports they intend to soon cut off the internet completely to cover their crimes.”

Mr Bashreef said the Iran-backed group was making “more than 100 billion Yemeni rials (Dh1.5 million)” from the internet which, he said, went towards a “war effort” fund.

Abdulbaset Al Faqeeh, of the Aden telecommunication authority, said Aden Net will be supported by the UAE.